Method of processing epg metadata in network device and the network device for controlling the same

ABSTRACT

A method of processing EPG metadata in a network according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of performing a services discovery procedure utilizing multiple service discovery metadata components supplied by a service provider and processing an EPG metadata. Moreover, the performing step includes the steps of receiving a master SI table which locates in a master SI table location in provisioning information, wherein the provisioning information includes multiple elements, an EPG provider information element in the multiple elements having both a delivery layer element and an EPG data locator element, the delivery layer element giving a type of delivery layer that is delivered by at least one of an EPG metadata provider&#39;s multicast EPG data sources, receiving a virtual channel map table which locates in virtual channel map locations in the received master SI table, receiving a virtual channel description table which locates in virtual channel description table locations in the received virtual channel map table, and receiving a source table which locates in source table locations in the received virtual channel description table.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/302,539, filed on Feb. 8, 2010, which are hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to EPG metadata, and more particularly, toan IPTV and method of processing EPG metadata therein.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In a conventional TV system, a content produced by a broadcastingservice provider is transmitted via such a radio wave transfer medium asterrestrial, cable, satellite and the like and a viewer is able to viewthe content via a TV receiver capable of receiving the transfer medium.As the digital TV technology is developed and commercialized from theconventional analog broadcasting, a viewer can be provided with variouscontents including real-time broadcasts, CoD (contents on demand),games, news and the like using Internet connected to each home as wellas the conventional radio wave media. For example, the contents viainternet can be provided via IPTV (internet protocol TV).

However, the related art fails to provide a method for a network device(e.g., an IPTV, etc.) to search and process EPG (electronic programguide) metadata quickly and efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of processingEPG metadata in a network device and the network device for controllingthe same that substantially obviate one or more problems due tolimitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide protocol, by which anetwork device (e.g., an IPTV, etc.) is enabled to process an EPGservice related to contents of a real-time TV service (or a linear TVservice) or a COD (contents on demand) service more quickly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide method ofprocessing EPG metadata, by which EPG metadata of various types ongoingto rise can be more efficiently processed.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, amethod of processing EPG metadata in a network according to oneembodiment of the present invention includes the steps of performing aservices discovery procedure utilizing multiple service discoverymetadata components supplied by a service provider and processing an EPGmetadata. Moreover, the performing step includes the steps of receivinga master SI table which locates in a master SI table location inprovisioning information, wherein the provisioning information includesmultiple elements, an EPG provider information element in the multipleelements having both a delivery layer element and an EPG data locatorelement, the delivery layer element giving a type of delivery layer thatis delivered by at least one of an EPG metadata provider's multicast EPGdata sources, receiving a virtual channel map table which locates invirtual channel map locations in the received master SI table, receivinga virtual channel description table which locates in virtual channeldescription table locations in the received virtual channel map table,and receiving a source table which locates in source table locations inthe received virtual channel description table.

Accordingly, the present invention provides the following effects and/oradvantages.

First of all, according to one embodiment of the present invention, anetwork device (e.g., an IPTV, etc.) is able to process an EPG servicerelated to contents of a real-time TV service (or a linear TV service)or a COD (contents on demand) service more quickly.

Secondly, according to another embodiment of the present invention, EPGmetadata of various types ongoing to rise can be more efficientlyprocessed.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram for an IPTV service according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for a multicast method according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for a unicast method according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a process for searching an IPTV service accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a process for a network device to perform aservice discovery operation according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a process for a network device to perform aservice discovery operation according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a process for a network device to process a CODservice according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams for a data structure of programinformation according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively;

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are diagrams for a data structure of basic contentdescription according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively;

FIGS. 13 to 15 are diagrams for a data structure of provisioninginformation according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram for a data structure of virtual channel descriptionaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17 to 19 are diagrams for a data structure of EPG providerinformation according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively;

FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 are diagrams for a data structure of an EPG datalocator according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively;

FIG. 22 is a diagram for a data structure of a delivery layer accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are diagrams for a data structure of EPG providerinformation according to another embodiment of the present invention,respectively;

FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 are diagrams for a data structure of an EPG datalocator according to another embodiment of the present invention,respectively;

FIG. 27 is a detailed diagram of the steps S808 and S809 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 28 is a diagram for a data structure of a virtual channel map forsignaling an EPG service provider per virtual channel map according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 are diagrams for a data structure of a virtualchannel map for signaling an EPG service provider per EPG virtualchannel map according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively;

FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 are diagrams for a data structure of an EPG datalocator for signaling an EPG service provider per EPG virtual channelmap according to one embodiment of the present invention, respectively;

FIG. 33 is a table of fragments according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 are diagram for a data structure of groupingcriteria for signaling SGDD grouped per virtual channel map according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a diagram for a data structure of an SG response according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart for a method of processing content metadata for alinear TV service by unicast according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for a method of processing content metadata for alinear TV service by multicast according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 39 is a diagram of a network device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 40 is a diagram of a network device according to another embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

First of all, terminologies or words used in this specification andclaims are not construed as limited to the general or dictionarymeanings and should be construed as the meanings and concepts matchingthe technical idea of the present invention based on the principle thatan inventor is able to appropriately define the concepts of theterminologies to describe the inventor's invention in best way.

For instance, such a terminology as a network device is used in thisdisclosure. And, this terminology can correspond to one of an IPTV(Internet Protocol TeleVision), an ITF (IPTV Terminal Function), adigital television, a mobile device and the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for an IPTV service according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

First of all, a service address on IP is determined as URL type forexample and an ITF makes a request for an IP address and the like to aDNS server and then receives the requested IP address and the like. TheITF accesses a server by multicast or unicast.

Referring to FIG. 1, an ITF makes a server address resolution request(S101). The ITF receives a resolved address of server from a DNS server(S102). The ITF is connected to a server by a unicast (S103) or amulticast (S104).

FIG. 2 is a diagram for a multicast method according to one embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, although a plurality of ITFs join a singlemulticast stream, 1-to-many connections are achieved instead of 1-to-1access to the server per ITF.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for a unicast method according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, 1-to-1 connection is established between an ITF anda server to transceive data in-between.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a process for searching an IPTV service accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

A service provider performs a service provider discovery (S401). An ITFperforms a SP attachment request (S402). The ITF receives provisioninginformation after SP attachment complete (S403). Furthermore, the ITFreceives master SI tables from the service provider (S404), receivesvirtual channel map tables from the service provider (S405), receivesvirtual channel description tables from the service provider (S406), andreceives source tables from the service provider (S407).

This is explained in detail as follows.

First of all, the service provider discovery can mean a process forservice providers providing services related to IPTV to discover aserver that provides information on services provided by the serviceproviders. A method for discovering an address list for obtaininginformation (e.g., SP discovery information) on an SD (servicediscovery) server includes one of the three kinds of methods forexample. First of all, it is able to use an address preset in the ITF oran address manually set by a user. Secondly, it is able to use a DHCPbased SP discovery method (e.g., DHCP option). Thirdly, it is able touse a DNS SRV-based SP discovery method (e.g., DNS SRV mechanism).

Moreover, the ITF accesses a server at the address obtained by one ofthe above three kinds of methods and then receives a service providerdiscovery record containing information necessary for the per-SP servicediscovery. Subsequently, the ITF performs a service searching step usingthe received service provider discovery record. Theses steps areavailable for one of a push mode and a pull mode.

The ITF accesses an SP attachment server designated as an SP attachmentlocator of the SP discovery record and then performs an ITF registrationprocedure (or a service attachment procedure). In this case, informationdelivered to the server from the ITF can have a format of an ITFregistration input type record. Alternatively, it is able to perform theservice attachment procedure using information of a query term type ofHTTP GET method.

Moreover, the ITF accesses an authentication service server of SP, whichis designated as an SP authentication locator, performs a separateauthentication procedure, and is then able to perform a serviceauthentication procedure.

Meanwhile, after the service attachment procedure has been successfullycompleted, data transmitted to the ITF by the server can have a formatof a provisioning information table.

In the service attachment procedure, the ITF transmits the data to theserver in a manner that its ID and location information are contained inthe data. Subsequently, the service attachment server is able to specifya service the ITF has subscribed based on the received ID and locationinformation. Moreover, address information, from which the ITF canobtain service information, is provided as a provisioning informationtable. This address information corresponds to access information of amaster SI table. In case of using this method, it is facilitated toprovide a subscriber-specific service.

The service information includes access information on a virtual channelmap, a master SI table record for managing a version, a virtual channelmap table for providing a service list of a package type, and a virtualchannel description table including detailed information of eachchannel, a source table including access information for accessing aservice actually, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of FIG. 4. Inter-data relations within SIare described with reference to FIG. 5 as follows.

Referring to FIG. 5, a master SI table includes location information forreceiving each virtual channel map and version information of eachvirtual channel map. Each virtual channel map is uniquely identified viaa virtual channel map identifier and the virtual channel map versionindicates version information of the virtual channel map. In case thatone of all tables connected in direction of arrow starting with themaster SI table is changed, versions of all higher tables (up to masterSI table) are incremented together with version increment of thecorresponding table. Thus, by monitoring the master SI table, it isadvantageous in that the change in the whole SI table can be directlychecked.

For instance, in case that a change occurs in the source table, aversion of the source table is incremented and a version of the virtualchannel description table for referring to the source table is changedas well. Therefore, the change of the lower table causes a change of ahigher table, whereby the version of the master SI table is eventuallychanged.

A single master SI table can exist per service provider. In case that aconfiguration of a service differs per region or subscriber (orsubscriber group), the service provider designs a plurality of master SItables to provide a customized service per unit. In case of this design,a customized service fit for a region of a subscriber, subscriptioninformation and the like can be efficiently provided via the master SItable.

The virtual channel map table can have at last one virtual channel andincludes location information for obtaining channel detail informationinstead of having the channel detail information contained in thevirtual channel map. The virtual channel description of the virtualchannel map indicates a location of a virtual channel description tablecontaining the channel detail information.

The virtual channel description table contains detail information ofvirtual channel. And, it is able to access the virtual channeldescription table using the virtual channel location in the virtualchannel map table.

Meanwhile, a method of delivering the virtual channel description tablecan use one of the following four kinds of methods.

First of all, using a single global multicast stream, a virtual channeldescription table of all channels provided by the service provider istransmitted. According to this design, as mentioned in the foregoingdescription, the virtual channel map table needs not to indicate theaddress of the detail information per virtual channel but an address ofthe global multicast stream is just included in the provisioninginformation table.

Secondly, there is a method of providing a single multicast stream perregion. This second method provides channel detail information using aseparate multicast stream per region, while the aforesaid first methodprovides channel detail information using a single stream nationwide. Inthis case, since a region to which the ITF belongs can be specified viathe service attachment procedure, it is possible to specify an addressof a unique multicast stream per region via PROVISIONING informationtable.

Thirdly, there is a method of designating a virtual channel descriptionlocation to a virtual channel map table. If it is able to receive detailinformation of channel belonging to one channel map at the same addressentirely or in part, the detail information is just designated to avirtual channel map table once rather than designated per virtualchannel description location. Yet, in case that there exists a channelnecessary to obtain detail information at a different address, relevantinformation is designated to the virtual channel description locationagain.

Fourthly, referring to FIG. 5, there s a method of designating alocation of detail information per channel using a virtual channeldescription location. A virtual channel service ID of a virtual channeldescription table is a unique identifier for discriminating a servicecorresponding to the virtual channel description. Using the virtualchannel service ID, it is able to discover a virtual channel descriptiontable. In case that a plurality of virtual channel description tablesare received by multicast, a multicast stream is joined and a virtualchannel description table corresponding to the same virtual channelservice ID is then discovered. In case that unicast scheme is applied, aparameter of the virtual channel service ID is transmitted to a serverand a specific virtual channel description table is then received only.

The source table provides access information (e.g., IP address, port, AVcodec, transport protocol, etc.) necessary for accessing a serviceactually per service.

The above described master SI table, virtual channel map table, virtualchannel description table and source table are delivered via 4 logicallyseparated flows and are available for push mode and pull mode both.Meanwhile, the master SI table monitors can be transmitted by multicastfor version management and a version change is monitored by receiving amulticast stream.

Moreover, the above described service provider information includes aservice provider ID, a version, an SP logo, an SP name, an SPdescription, an SP attachment locator, an SP authentication locator andthe like for example.

The service provider ID uniquely identifies a service provider and isable to use a registered domain name.

The version indicates a version of a record of the service providerinformation.

The SP logo specifies a location of a logo image of a service providerand is selectively usable.

The SP name indicates a name of a service provider and can have one nameper language.

The SP description is a detailed text description of a service providerand can be provided per language.

The SP attachment locator specifies an address of a service attachmentserver of a service provider. Meanwhile, a SERVICE attachment procedurenecessary for initiating a service of a corresponding service provideris performed via the server.

The SP authentication locator specifies an address of a server to accessin case of using a selectively usable authentication procedure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a process for a network device to perform aservice discovery operation according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a network device (e.g., an ITF) according to oneembodiment of the present invention includes finds out serviceprovider's SD server (S601). The network device retrieves serviceprovider information table (S602). The network device parses attributeon service provider ID (S603). The network device determines whetherwanted service provider is or not (S604).

The network device parses attribute on SP name and SP description(S605). The network device parses attribute on SP attachment locator(S606). The network device goes to service attachment step in pull mode(S607).

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a process for a network device to perform aservice discovery operation according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. The flow shown in FIG. 7 can be performed aftercompletion of the steps shown in FIG. 6 for example.

The network device performs a service provider attachment step in pullmode(S701). The network device sends SP attachment request to SPattachment server(S702). The network device determines whether SPattachment is OK(S703). If no, the network device recognizes that the SPattachment is fail(S704). If yes, the network device retrievesprovisioning information table(S705). The network device parsesattribute on master SI table locator(S706). The network device retrievesmaster SI table(S707). The network device parses attribute on virtualchannel map location(S708). The network device retrieves virtual channelmap table(S709).

Furthermore, the network device parses attribute on virtual channeldescription locator(S710). The network device retrieves virtual channeldescription table(S711). The network device parses attribute on sourcelocator(S712). The network device retrieves source table(S713). Thenetwork device starts service(S714).

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a process for a network device to process a CODservice according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

The network device performs a service provider attachment step in pullmode (S801). The network device sends SP attachment request to SPattachment server (S802). The network device determines whether SPattachment is OK or not (S803). If no, the network device recognizesthat the SP attachment fails (S804). If yes, the network deviceretrieves provisioning information table (S805). The network deviceretrieves service information (S806). The network device selects one ormore COD services from the COD virtual channel services (S807).

The network device retrieves COD content catalog from COD catalog server(S808). The network device browses and selects COD content (S809). Thenetwork device performs an authorization including purchasing theselected COD content (S810). Yet, the step S808 and the step S809 shallbe described in detail later in this disclosure.

Moreover, the network device determines whether the content will beconsumed (S811). If no, the network device will consume the contentlater (S812). If yes, the network device retrieves location of theselected content instance (S813). The network device retrieves contentinstance (S814). And, the network device consumes the content (S815).

FIG. 8 shows an operation of a thick client that receives and processesmetadata.

The thick client receives service information and then processes SImetadata. A use of a COD service is initiated by selecting a COD virtualchannel service from the processed metadata. The thick client obtains anaddress of a COD catalog server to obtain a COD content list and detailinformation included in the COD service. The thick client accesses theaddress and then obtains content catalog information. The thick clientselects a content to consume via such a process as browsing, navigation,searching and the like using the obtained content catalog informationand then acquires consumption authority via an authorization procedure.This authorization procedure includes the steps of purchasing, usageterms, payment, settlement and the like. After acquisition of theconsumption authority, the thick client obtains location information ofan instance of a content to consume. Afterwards, the thick clientaccesses the content instance based on the obtained location informationand then consumes the corresponding content.

On the other hand, in case of the thin client, there are two kinds ofschemes for accessing a COD service portal.

According to a first scheme, the thin client accesses a COD service mainportal page accessible to all COD services specified in a provisioninginformation table and then uses a corresponding service.

According to a second scheme, selection of a COD service is performedbased on the received SI information. In order to use the selected CODservice, a portal page of the corresponding COD service is directlyaccessed and the corresponding service is then used.

Yet, according to both of the first and second schemes, after completionof the service selection, using the thin client, a content is selected,authority is acquired, the content is then consumed, via content catalogbrowsing, navigation, and searching.

Meanwhile, in the above description, the following three kinds ofschemes are proposed as a method of browsing the COD content catalog, bywhich the corresponding method is non-limited. In this case, theterminology ‘browsing’ includes at least one of navigation and searchingor can mean a series of steps of discovering a specific content usingthe content catalog.

First of all, the thin client executes browsing of a COD content catalogin a manner that a server and a user equipment exchange HTMS basedwebpage with each other. In particular, since metadata of a contentexists in a server side, the thin client performs browsing by receivinga webpage containing a UI and data.

Secondly, a medium level client stores a small quantity of contentmetadata in a client using various delivery mechanisms and then performsbrowsing locally. In case that additional metadata is necessary, it isadditionally received from a server.

Thirdly, regarding a high level client, a client receives and storeswhole COD content catalog and then performs local browsing.

In the following description, the metadata delivery mechanism requiredfor the aforesaid browsing scheme is explained as follows.

Purchasing proceeds via the authorization procedure. Afterwards,information of the purchased content is stored in user's profileinformation. A user is able to consume the corresponding content rightafter completion of the purchasing or can consume it via another deviceat another timing point in the future. In a manner of managing purchaselist information via user profile, one device at the purchasing pointand another device at the consuming point can be separated from eachother.

In case of consuming a purchased content, it is necessary to acquireaccess information on a consumable instance of a real content based on aglobally unique content ID that is a unique identifier of the purchasedcontent. For this, in a proposed scheme according to one embodiment ofthe present invention, a real content instance is discovered via theabove described source table.

Usages of the metadata browsing method are not just limited to the CODservice and are applicable to using metadata of IPTV services, whichwill be introduced in various ways in the future, as well as a linear TVservice.

Content metadata delivery mechanism proposed by the present inventionincludes 2-layered content metadata delivery scheme shown in thefollowing. Of course, the 2-layer configuration is just exemplary andthe configuration design is extensible over 3 layers.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, base-layermetadata delivery channel and 2-nd layer metadata delivery channel areseparately defined.

The Base-layer Metadata Delivery Channel means a metadata deliverychannel configured with lest information necessary for contentselection. Conventional metadata has flexibility in delivering metadatainformation on all items that can be assumed. As this flexibility isallowed, if the number of contents is considerably incremented, a sizeof metadata information on a whole list can increase too large to bereceived and processed by a user equipment. Hence, the following schemefor enabling a user equipment to perform browsing is useful in a mannerof restricting this flexibility partially for fast content browsing,defining minimum necessary metadata, and then delivering the definedmetadata to the user equipment quickly.

Eve if the number of contents is considerably large, a size ofinformation is minimized into a level of delivering metadata informationof a whole content quickly to a user equipment. In this case, a streamor channel for delivering the size-minimized information shall bedefined as a base-layer metadata delivery channel. If this scheme isused, it is also advantageous in that such a user equipment, which isincapable of processing vast metadata, as a storage-space-limited userequipment, a function-limited user equipment and the like is able toprocess the minimized metadata information.

Since a size of the base layer is minimized, the base layer is receivedby a user equipment in a manner of being carried on a multicast streamor the like and is then used. Alternatively, the base layer can bedelivered by unicast or the like.

The 2-nd Layer Metadata Delivery Channel means an additional metadatadelivery channel that delivers the former metadata carries on the baselayer. Since the base layer contains very basic metadata items only,additional metadata may be necessary to help user's content selection. Achannel for carrying the additional metadata is intended to be deliveredvia separate 2-nd Layer Metadata Delivery Channel.

This 2-nd layer metadata can be delivered via one of the following threekinds of schemes.

First of all, there is HTTP or SOAP Query scheme. A request foradditional metadata of a content selected via base-layer metadata ismade to a server by HTTP or SOAP query and the requested additionalmetadata can be received.

Secondly, there is a unicast scheme. A request for whole 2-nd layermetadata is made to a server, the corresponding metadata is received,and Local Browsing/Search/Navigation can be then performed.

Thirdly, there is a multicast scheme. In case that whole 2-nd LayerMetadata is transmitted by Multicast, a user equipment joins andreceives the corresponding multicast stream and is then able to performLocal Browsing/Search/Navigation.

Thus, in case that metadata is provided by discriminating a separatechannel, a service provided can be provided with the following diverseflexibility and efficiency in providing metadata.

First of all, local browsing can be performed in a manner of deliveringmetadata corresponding to a base layer to a user equipment and enablingthe delivered metadata to be stored in the user equipment. If localbrowsing is performed in a manner of storing content metadata in a userequipment, it is able to reduce server load and network use quantitysmaller than those of the scheme performed in a manner of requesting,receiving and processing metadata remaining in a server by a userequipment. And, a processing speed of the user's request is raised toenable fast service provision.

Moreover, when metadata is left in a server, in case that a userequipment interactively makes a request for the metadata to the server,it is able to use the base-layer metadata as well. Moreover, usages ofthe metadata delivery scheme are not just limited to the COD service andare applicable to using metadata of IPTV services, which will beintroduced in various ways in the future, as well as a linear TVservice.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams for a data structure of programinformation according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively.

Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, content metadata for a base layer canbe limited to include three kinds of elements (e.g., program ID, AVattribute, basic description, etc.) only. Other attributes andsubordinate elements can be delivered via an additional layer equal toor greater than 2-nd layer.

The program ID is the information for uniquely identifying a programdescribed by program information.

The AV attribute defines media attribute information (e.g., codec, size,etc.) of audio/video of program and the like.

The basic description shall be explained in detail in the descriptionswith reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are diagrams for a data structure of basic contentdescription according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively.

First of all, metadata for a base layer is designed to include thefollowing seven kinds of items only for example. Other elements are notcarried on the base layer but can be carried on an additional layer over2-nd layer.

1. ShortTitle: Title of program supporting maximum 80 English letters

2. ProgramInfoURL: URL for obtaining additional program information

3. Genre: Indicating a genre of program

4. RRTParentalGuidance: Delivering a rating value according to aparental guidance system regulated by ATSC PSIP standard

5. Language: Description of supported audio language

6. CaptionLanguage: Description of supported caption language

7. SignLanguage: description of supported Sign language

If a base layer is limited to the minimum, it can be used by beinglimited in the above manner. Besides, various embodiments for thedefinitions of metadata items transmittable per layer can exist. In caseof configuration with N-layer instead of 2-layer configuration, metadataare available in a manner of being profiled into more various types.

This is applicable to the case of providing EPG metadata of a pluralityoff linear TV services as well as massive COD contents. If the number ofchannels is further incremented, a size of EPG metadata for a real-timebroadcast can't help increasing. Therefore, the 2-layer or higher layer(n-layer) metadata delivery scheme is very usefully available.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, proposed is amethod of configuring and delivering 3-layer (or higher layer: n-layer)metadata instead of the above 2-layer scheme.

This is to provide a different quantity of metadata by differentiating adetail of information of metadata in each step despite providinginformation on a content of a same size. Thus, schematic information onmassive contents is quickly provided using a small quantity of metadatafor list reception, query and the like. If a user attempts to viewdetailed information, it is able to provide information on a content ofa small size more accurately.

In order to differentiate detail of information, the informationconfiguration of the following three steps is described for example.

First of all, a list layer is defined. The object of the list layer isto provide a list. By providing minimum information per content, it isable to efficiently transmit information on massive contents once.

Secondly, a lite layer EPG is defined. Although the configuration offinformation is minimized to enable such a user equipment, which has alimited screen size, limited storage space and limited CPU processingcapability, as a mobile phone to process the corresponding informationsufficiently, this configuration is set suitable for a level necessaryto select a content. This layer has information more than that of theabove described list layer but is abbreviated smaller than a full layerEPG in the following.

Thirdly, a full layer EPG is defined. This configuration contains mostdetailed information capable of carrying every kind of metadata.

The fill layer EPG is the most detailed step of using every metadataelement defined in EPG metadata without no restriction. The rest of twosteps can be configured according to the restrictions as follows.

In this case, the content metadata for list can be limitedly usable in amanner of using the following attributes and subordinate elements only.

1. ProgramID: This identifier uniquely identifies a program (content)described by this program information.

2. BasicDescription: This is limited to include a part described in thefollowing only.

The Basic Content Description provides basic informations on a program(content), a group including a set of the programs or a SuperGroupincluding a set of the groups. And, metadata for list is set to includethe following items only among the basic informations. This restrictionis applicable to all of the Program, Group, and SuperGroup.

1. ShortTitle: Title of program supporting maximum 80 English letters

2. Genre: Indicating a genre of program

3. RRTParentalGuidance: Delivering a rating value according to aparental guidance system regulated by ATSC PSIP standard

4. Language: Description of supported audio language

5. CaptionLanguage: Description of supported caption language

Yet, elements for the aforesaid list layer are just exemplary.Optionally, it is able to modify detailed elements in necessity of thoseskilled in the art.

In this case, the content metadata for lit can be limitedly usable in amanner of using the following attributes and subordinate elements only.

1. ProgramID: This identifier uniquely identifies a program (content)described by this program information.

2. AVAttribute: This describes media attribute information ofAudio/Video and the like of program (e.g., Codec, Size, etc.).

3. BasicDescription: This is limited to include a part described in thefollowing only.

The Basic Description is set to include the following elements only.

1. ShortTitle: Title of program supporting maximum 80 English letters

2. PrograminfoURL: URL for obtaining additional program information

3. Genre: Indicating a genre of program

4. RRTParentalGuidance: Delivering a rating value according to aparental guidance system regulated by ATSC PSIP standard

5. Language: Description of supported audio language

6. CaptionLanguage: Description of supported caption language

7. SignLanguage: Description of supported Sign language

8. Synopsis: This is description of text type. In lite EPG, a lengthattribute value is limited to “short” and 90 English letters. Thislimitation length is just exemplary or can be set to another value touse.

9. CreditList: This is information on a credited person of program andshould include maximum 5 roles (major cast, production, screenplay,etc.) and maximum 3 names per role in direct. Since a separate table fornames may not be provided by the lite EPG in consideration of size, itmay be appropriate that names of characters essential to describe thework or picture are directly described only.

If the lite EPG is limited to the minimum, the above limitation isavailable. Various embodiments of more or less definitions of thetransmittable metadata items can be provided.

In case of the above 3-step information configuration, one informationconfiguration can be delivered in a manner of configuring a wholedelivery layer into 3 steps. Alternatively, the informationconfiguration can be delivered in a manner of being divided into 2 stepsby selecting 2-step information configuration from the 3 steps.

The former 2-layer configuration can be regarded as one example for theconfiguration of Lite EPG and Full EPG.

The XML schema for the EPG Lite Profile is derived from the full EPG XMLschema by excluding certain elements and attributes, imposing certainsize restrictions on some of the remaining elements and attributes,eliminating certain Classification Schemes, and limiting the terms thatcan be used in some of the remaining Classification Schemes, asspecified below.

EPGMainType: None of its immediate child elements or attributes shall beexcluded.

ProgramDescriptionType: The following child elements shall be excluded.The child elements are CreditsInformationTable element,ProgramReviewTable element.

ProgramInformationType: The following child elements shall be excluded.The child elements are DerivedFrom element, and AggregateOf element, andPartOfAggregration element.

GroupInformationType: None of its immediate child elements or attributesshall be excluded.

SuperGroupInformationType: None of its immediate child elements orattributes shall be excluded.

ServiceInformationType: The following child elements and attributesshall be excluded. The child elements are Owner element, ServiceURLelement, ParentService element, OriginalChannelNumber element,originalServiceProvider attribute, originalServiceLocation attribute,affiliateNetwork attribute.

Moreover, the ServiceDescription.length attribute ofServiceInformationType shall be restricted to the value “short”.

ScheduleType: None of its immediate child elements or attributes shallbe excluded.

ScheduleEventType: The following child elements shall be excluded. Thechild elements are ProgramURL element, InstanceDescription element,EventInfoURL element, RRTParentalGuidance element, ParentalGuidanceelement, TrickModeRestrictions element, PublishedDuration element, Liveelement, Repeat element, FirstShowing element, LastShowing element, andFree element.

BroadcastEventType: None of its immediate child elements or attributesshall be excluded.

OnDemandProgramType: The following child elements shall be excluded. Thechild elements are ProgramURL element, InstanceDescription element,EventInfoURL element, RRTParentalGuidance element, ParentalGuidanceelement, TrickModeRestrictions element, FirstAvailability element,LastAvailability element, ImmediateViewing element.

OnDemandServiceType: None of its immediate child elements or attributesshall be excluded.

BasicContentDescriptionType: The following child elements shall beexcluded. The child elements are Title element, MediaTitle element,PromotionInformation element, ProgramURL element, AwardsList element,BoxOffice element, RelatedMaterial element, ProductionDate element,ProductionLocation element, CreationCoordinates element,DepictedCoordinates element, and the Synopsis.length attribute of suchBasicDescription elements shall have the value “short”.

Also, for BasicDescription elements which appear in GroupInformationelements or SuperGroupInformation elements, the following additionalchild elements of BasicContentDescriptionType shall be excluded. Theadditional child elements are ProgramInfoURL element, CaptionLanguageelement, SignLanguage element, CreditsList element, ReleaseInformationelement, Duration element, programFormat element, copyRestrictionselement.

AVAttributesType: The following child elements shall be excluded. Thechild elements are FileFormat element, System element, Bitrate element.

AudioAttributesType: The following child elements shall be excluded. Thechild elements are Coding element, SampleFrequency element,BitsPerSample element.

VideoAttributesType: The following child elements shall be excluded. Thechild elements are ActiveFormatDescription element, Coding element,FrameRate element.

CreditsItemType: The following child elements and attributes shall beexcluded. The child elements are PersonName.dateFrom, PersonName.dateTo,PersonName.type, PersonNameIDRef, OrganizationNameIDRef,Character.dataFrom, Character.dataTo, Character.type.

ClassificationSchemeTable: The following classification schemes are notapplicable to the EPG Lite Profile, due to the exclusion of thecorresponding elements and attributes from the profile. Therefore, theseschemes and any aliases for these schemes shall be excluded from theClassificationSchemeTable(tva:HowRelatedCS, mpeg7:FileFormatCS,mpeg7:AudioCodingFormatCS, mpeg7:VideoCodingFormatCS, mpeg7:SystemCS)

All terms of the tva:RoleCS classification scheme shall be excludedexcept for the following two, termID “V106” (Name “Key talent”), termID“V20” (Name “Production Company”) and termID “DIRECTOR”.

All terms of the tva:ContentCS classification scheme below the top levelshall be excluded, leaving only the following terms(Proprietary,Non-fiction, Sports, Fiction/Drama, Amusement/Entertainment, Music,Interactive Games, Leisure/Hobby/Lifestyle, Adult)

The only fragments included for List profile of EPG metadata should beProgramInformation, GroupInformation, SuperGroupInformation,ServiceInformation, Schedule, and OnDemandService. (The Schedulefragments clearly apply only to scheduled programs, and theGroupInformation and SuperGroupInformation fragments are primarilyintended for CoD programs.) The only elements of those fragmentsincluded should be those shown below:

ProgramInformation: It may contain only the programId attribute, theMemberOf element and the ShortTitle, Keyword, Genre and ParentalGuidanceelements of the BasicDescription element.

GroupInformation and SuperGroupInformation: It may contain only thegroupId attribute, the MemberOf element, and the ShortTitle, Keyword andGenre elements of the BasicDescription element.

ServiceInformation: It may contain only the serviceId attribute, and theName (short form), Logo, and perhaps ServiceGenre elements.

Schedule: It may contain only the serviceIDRef attribute and theScheduleEvent elements, and each ScheduleEvent element in the Scheduleshould contain only the Program, InstanceMetadataId, PublishedStartTimeand PublishedEndTime elements. (The Program element is just a referenceto the programId of the program, and the InstanceMetadataId element isjust an identifier for the event.)

OnDemandService: It may contain only the serviceIDRef attribute and theOnDemandPrograms. Each OnDemandProgram should contain only the Program,InstanceMetadataId. StartOfAvailability and EndOfAvailability elements.

The List profile can be defined as follows.

The XML schema for the EPG List Profile is derived from the full EPG XMLschema by imposing the restrictions in the list below. Any EPG XML typedefinitions not mentioned in this list shall remain unchanged in the EPGList Profile.

The following attributes shall not be excluded from any type definitionin which they appear, notwithstanding any statements in the bullet itemsbelow about excluding all attributes and elements except for those in aspecific list:(metadataOriginIDRef attribute, xml:lang attribute,fragmentIdentification attributeGoup)

ProgramDescriptionType: The following child elements shall beexcluded:(CreditsInformationTable, ProgramReviewTable,PurchaseInformationTable)

ProgramInformationType: All the attributes and elements except for thefollowing shall be excluded:(programId attribute,BasicDescription.ShortTitle element, BasicDescription.Keyword element,BasicDescription.Genre element, BasicDescription.RRTParentalGuidanceelement, BasicDescription.ParentalGuidance element, MemberOf element)

GroupInformationType: All the attributes and elements except for thefollowing shall be excluded:(groupId attribute,BasicDescription.ShortTitle element, BasicDescription.Keyword element,BasicDescription.Genre element, MemberOf element)

SupergroupInformationType: All the attributes and elements except forthe following shall be excluded:(groupId attribute, level attribute,BasicDescription.ShortTitle element, BasicDescription.Keyword element,BasicDescription.Genre element, MemberOf element)

ServiceInformationType: All the attributes and elements except for thefollowing shall be excluded:(serviceId attribute, Name element, Logoelement)

The “length” attribute of the “Name” element shall be restricted to the“short” value.

ScheduleType: All the attributes and elements except for the followingshall be excluded:(ScheduleEvent element, serviceIDRef element,ScheduleEventType)

All the attributes and elements except for the following shall beexcluded:(Program element, InstanceMetadataId element,PublishedStartTime element, PublishedEndTime element)

OnDemandProgram: All the attributes and elements except for thefollowing shall be excluded:(Program element, InstanceMetadataIdelement, StartOfAvailability element, EndOfAvailability element,Classification Schemes)

The only classification scheme applicable to the EPG List Profile istva:ContentCS. All terms of tva:ContentCS below the top level shall beexcluded, leaving only the same terms as for the EPG Lite Profile.

In the EPG metadata transmission configured with the above multiplelayers, the following three kinds of delivery schemes are proposed. Theyare applicable to all kinds of services including Linear TV, COD Serviceand the like.

First of all, a list layer is received after multicast transmission.Afterwards, a detailed layer can be received by making a request byunicast. Thus, information on massive contents can be simplified,multicasted and then stored in a receiver. Based on the receivedinformation, an EPG is provided to a user. If the user makes a requestfor detailed information, the detailed information is received byunicast and the received detailed information is then processed.

Secondly, both a list layer and a lite layer are transmitted bymulticast, while a full layer is transmitted by unicast or multicast. Inthis case, the list layer is more frequently transmitted with higherpriority, while the lite layer is less frequently transmitted with lowerpriority. This is because service provision can be smoothly performed ina manner of receiving a small size information quickly in the firstplace, providing a next EPG service, and then receiving detailedinformation slowly.

Thirdly, all layers can be transmitted by unicast. In case that aquantity of a content such as COD is massive, efficiency of navigationand/or browsing is enhanced in a manner of utilizing layers despitesending all data based on the unicast.

FIGS. 13 to 15 are diagrams for a data structure of provisioninginformation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13 and the like, a method of signaling an address of aCOD catalog server by extending provisioning information is explained asfollows.

For instance, if a service attachment is successfully completed,information transmitted to an ITF by a service attachment server canhave a type shown in FIG. 13. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, it is intended to make a definition by extending the schemashown in FIG. 13. In particular, referring to FIG. 13, COD serviceinformation relevant element is added. The COD service informationrelevant element is shown in detail in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.

COD Catalog Server Information provides access information of a serverthat provides a COD catalog corresponding to a set of metadatainformation of COD contents. TargetServiceProviderID can be optionallyadded as a subordinate element. Through this, information provided bythe corresponding CODCatalogServer can identify a valid ServiceProvide.

CODCatalogServer provided via Provisioning Information Table is able toprovide content metadata about all COD services provided by thecorresponding service provider. If a COD Content Metadata storage spacepossessed by a user equipment is large enough to accommodate totalmetadata therein, the user equipment accesses CODCatalogServer providedvia Provisioning Information Table and is then able to receive all CODContent Metadataprovided by a service provider.

If the metadata storage space of the user equipment is not large enough,navigation can be performed in a manner of receiving metadata of a CODservice a user attempts to navigate only. This can be supported by ascheme of catalog location provision per COD virtual channel.

And, in order to identify a case that EPG metadata provided by acorresponding EPG provider is delivered via at least two delivery layerslike the proposal of one embodiment of the present invention, asubordinate element named “NumberOfDeliveryLayer” is added. Through thisadded element, it is able to flexibly support a scheme of delivery withextension up to n-layer from the 2-layer metadata delivery. If the addedelement does not exist, since a separate layer or similar information isnot delivered to each EPG data locator, it is constructed with a singlelayer. On the contrary, if a separate layer or similar information isdelivered to the EPG data locator, it means that it is constructed withat least one layer. This can be recognized by parsing all of the EPGdata locators.

Moreover, in order to signal the information indicating that metadatacarried on the corresponding CODCatalogServerLocation corresponds towhich layer, attribute named “DeliveryLayer” is added. A value thisattribute can have can include the value according to the formatdescribed in the following signaling method and is configured to signala layer of metadata transmitted from the correspondingCODCatalogServerLocation.

Thus, a method of specifying a profile of EPG metadata delivered from acorresponding source is available as well as the method of signaling acorresponding layer in direct. If EPG metadata for a base layer definedaccording to one embodiment of the present invention is defined as“Light-weight EPG Metadata Profile”, the same effect can be obtained ina manner of specifying this profile information. This can be more usefulin case of extension to n-layer. In case that a layer configuration isdifferentiated per service provider, it is advantageous in thatindication of an accurate EPG metadata profile is more effective thanindication of a layer in prescribed order.

A receiver is able to receive EPG metadata by selecting one of severalEPG data locations in consideration of a processing capability of thereceiver and a type of EPG data needed by a user currently.

If ThinClientPortal supports ‘thin client’ corresponding to a scheme ofusing a service via HTTP browser, it provides a URI of a thin clientportal that provides the service. ThinClientPortal URI included in CODservice information in Provisioning Information Table can be regarded asa URL of a main page accessible to all COD services of a serviceprovider.

CODAppilcationServer specifies an address of a specific applicationserver that performs “COD Application” function.

The COD Application Function performs ContentSearch/Navigation/Selection function and ContentTerms/Payment/Settlement function as a server-side function ofsupporting such a process necessary to use a COD service as browsing,searching, selection, purchase and the like.

If this address is not specified, an SD server or a catalog serverperforms the same function or a communication with a COD applicationserver is transparently routed to an IPTV client.

It is able to selectively specify ITFMaximumCODBandwidth to specify amaximum bandwidth of an access link to use in using a COD service.

If ITFMinimumCODStorageSpace is specified, a minimum size of a contentstorage space of a user equipment, which is necessary to use a CODservice of SP is specified. If this value is not specified, it may beindicate that a separate storage space is not necessary for using a CODservice.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for a data structure of virtual channel descriptionaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. With reference toFIG. 16 and the like, a method of signaling an address of a COD catalogserver by extending a virtual channel description is described asfollows.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method ofprocessing a COD (content on demand) service by extending a virtualchannel description table is proposed.

Referring to FIG. 16, by extending VirtualChannelDescriptionType, it isintended to provide COD service relevant information. In particular, asshown in FIG. 18, COD service information relevant element is added.

CODCatalogServerInfo provides access information of an access serverthat provides a COD catalog as a metadata information set of CODcontents. It is able to selectively provide TargetServiceProviderID as asubordinate element. Through this, it is able to identifyServiceProviderof which information provided by CODCatalogServer isvalid.

The CODCatalogServer provided via VirtualChannelDescriptionType is aserver that provides information on the specific VirtualChannel Service.Through this, it is able to provide COD metadata through a separate CODCatalogServer per COD VirtualChannel service. Through this, a receiverselectively receives metadata of the subscribed service or the CODservice currently accessed to use and is then able to use the receivedmetadata.

In the same manner of the signaling method by extending the abovedescribed ProvisioningInfo, element and attribute for signaling an EPGmetadata delivery layer are added. Based on them, a receiver is able toselect and receive an appropriate EPG metadata location based on itsprocessing capability, a user's request content and the like.

In case of supporting ‘thin client’ as a scheme of using a service viaHTTP Browser, ThinClientPortal provides a URI of Thin Client Portal.TheThinClientPortal URI included in CODServiceInfo onVirtualChannelDescriptionType can be regarded as a URI of a specificservice page accessible to a corresponding VirtualChannel Servicedescribed by VirtualChannelDescriptionType.

CODAppilcationServer specifies an address of a specific applicationserver configured to perform “COD Application” Function.

The COD Application Function performs ContentSearch/Navigation/Selection function and ContentTerms/Payment/Settlement function as a server-side function ofsupporting such a process necessary to use a COD service as browsing,searching, selection, purchase and the like.

If this address is not specified, an SD server or a catalog serverperforms these functions or a communication with a COD applicationserver is transparently routed to an IPTV client.

In case of CODApplicationServer provided viaVirtualChannelDescriptionType, when a service is provided via a CODapplication server different per VirtualChannel Service, this issignaled.

FIGS. 17 to 19 are diagrams for a data structure of EPG providerinformation according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively. With reference to FIG. 17 and the like, a method ofsignaling an address of a COD catalog server using EPG providerinformation is describe as follows.

In the foregoing description, a scheme of providing COD serviceinformation via a provisioning information table has been explained. Incase of COD catalog server address and thin client portal in the CODservice information, they can be delivered using EPG providerinformation and thin client portal information. In case of using thisscheme, COD catalog server address and thin client portal informationare omitted from the COD service information included in theprovisioning information and are delivered by the method shown in FIG.17 and the like.

EPGProviderID shown in FIG. 17 is an identifier that can uniquelyidentify a provider that provides an EPG. For this, a registered domainname is usable.

Version indicates a version of EPGDiscoveryRecord.

EPGProviderName indicates a text name of an PEG provider and can haveone name per language.

EPGProviderDescription contains detailed text description of an EPGprovider and can have one description per language.

EPGDataLocation signalsIP address, protocol and the like for receivingEPG data.

TargetServiceProviderID describes IDs of IPTV SP supported by thecorresponding EPG provider.

EPGProviderLogo provides a URI of logo of the EPG provider.

Referring to FIG. 17, by extending EPGProviderInfoType defined for alinear TV service, an element named “SupportedServiceType” is added.This indicates types of services including EPG metadata and is able toindicate whether a corresponding EPG provider provides EPG metadata forall services or information on a specific service (e.g. Linear TV and/orCOD Service). This is enabled by adding the element namedTypeOfSupportedService, as shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19.

A value of the element can be set to ‘ALL’ in case of providing EPGmetadata for all kinds of services. In case of providing information onLinearTV, the value can be set to a LinearTV value. In case of providinginformation on a COD service, the value can be set to a COD servicevalue.

Since SupportedServiceType can be set to 0 to infinity, it can signalall types of supportable services.

In order to identify a case that EPG metadata provided by acorresponding EPG provider is delivered via at least two delivery layersas proposed by one embodiment of the present invention, a subordinateelement named “NumberOfDeliveryLayer” is added. Through this element, itis able to flexibly support a scheme of delivery with extension up ton-layer from the 2-layer metadata delivery. If the added element doesnot exist, since a separate layer or similar information is notdelivered to each EPG data locator, it is constructed with a singlelayer. On the contrary, if a separate layer or similar information isdelivered to the EPG data locator, it means that it is constructed withat least one layer. This can be recognized by parsing all of the EPGdata locators.

Based on this information, a receiver is able to identify an EPGprovider that provides EPG metadata for a COD service. Based on this,the receiver accesses a necessary EPG provider and is then able toreceive EPG metadata. Of course, this is identically applicable toinformation on a service different from the COD service as well.

As another method of identifying a case that EPG metadata provided by acorresponding EPG provider is delivered via at least two delivery layersas proposed by one embodiment of the present invention, proposed is amethod of adding a subordinate element named “DeliveryLayer”. If theadded element does not exist, since a separate layer or similarinformation is not delivered to each EPG data locator, it is assumed asproviding all layers. Namely, this method is a scheme of explicitlydeclaring all DeliveryLayer provided by an EPG provider.

Based on this information, a receiver is able to identify an EPGprovider that provides EPG metadata for a COD service. Based on this,the receiver accesses a necessary EPG provider and is then able toreceive EPG metadata. Of course, this is identically applicable toinformation on a service different from the COD service as well.

FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 are diagrams for a data structure of an EPG datalocator according to one embodiment of the present invention,respectively. FIG. 22 is a diagram for a data structure of a deliverylayer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

For instance, it is able to provide n locations of EPG data provided byan EPG provider using EPG provider information. In this case, EPG datatype and delivery layer provided per EPG data location may be different.In order to signal this information, it is intended to extend an EPGdata locator as shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21.

EPG metadata can be delivered by multicast or unicast using FLUTE. Incase of the multicast delivery, signaling is performed via multicast EPGservice. In case of the unicast delivery, signaling is performed viaunicast EPG service. By adding the above described attribute‘SupporteServiceType to each element, a type of a service supported byeach stream is signaled.

Meanwhile, in this closure, information according to one embodiment ofthe present invention is added as an element or an attribute.Optionally, the element and the attribute can be used together ifnecessary.

In order to signal that metadata transmitted via a corresponding ELGdata locator corresponds to which layer, an attribute “DeliveryLayer” isadded. This attribute can have a value of the format shown in FIG. 22and signals a layer of EPG metadata transmitted from the correspondingEPG data locator.

Thus, a method of specifying a profile of EPG metadata delivered from acorresponding source is available as well as the method of signaling thecorresponding layer in direct. If EPG metadata for a base layer definedaccording to one embodiment of the present invention is defined as“Light-weight EPG Metadata Profile”, the same effect can be obtained byspecifying this profile information.

Moreover, in case of extension to n-layer, i.e., in case ofdifferentiating a layer configuration per service provider, indicationof an accurate EPG data profile is more effective than indicating anorder of a layer.

A receiver selects one of several EPG data locations in consideration ofits processing capability, a type of EPG data currently needed by a userand the like and is then able to receive EPG metadata.

Based on the above information, the receiver is able to identify an EPGdata location that provides EPG metadata about a COD service. Based onthis, the receiver accesses a necessary EPG data location and is thenable to receive EPG metadata. Of course, this is identically applicableto information on a service different from the COD service as well.

In brief, a method of processing an element ‘delivery layer’ added toEPG provider information or an EPG data locator according to oneembodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to FIG.5, FIG. 19, FIG. 20 and the like as follows.

A method of processing an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) metadata in anetwork device comprises both a step of performing a services discoveryprocedure utilizing multiple service discovery metadata componentssupplied by a service provider, and a step of processing an EPGmetadata.

Meanwhile, the performing step can be designed to be handled by aservice discovery manager 4109 shown in FIG. 39. And, the processingstep can be designed to be handled by the metadata manager 4110 shown inFIG. 39.

And, the performing step includes four kinds of steps shown in FIG. 5.

The performing step comprises a first receiving step of receiving amaster SI table which locates in a master SI table location inprovisioning information. Furthermore, the provisioning informationincludes multiple elements. An EPG provider information element in themultiple elements has both a first delivery layer element and an EPGdata locator element. The first delivery layer element gives a type ofdelivery layer that is delivered by at least one of an EPG metadataprovider's EPG data sources.

Meanwhile, the delivery layer element included in the EPG providerinformation is exemplarily shown in FIG. 19.

Moreover, the performing step comprises a second receiving step ofreceiving a virtual channel map table which locates in virtual channelmap locations in the received master SI table, a third receiving step ofreceiving a virtual channel description table which locates in virtualchannel description table locations in the received virtual channel maptable, and a fourth receiving step of receiving a source table whichlocates in source table locations in the received virtual channeldescription table.

For example, the provisioning information is obtained by the networkdevice during a SP (service provider) attachment. Moreover, the networkdevice may correspond to at least one of an ITF (IPTV Terminal Function)device, a mobile device and a digital television.

Moreover, as mentioned in the foregoing description, profiles for theEPG metadata are classified by 3 sorts of an EPG full profile, an EPGlite profile having less than information in the EPG full profile and anEPG list profile having less than information in the EPG lite profile.

Furthermore, fragments on each of organization name information andreview information are applicable for the EPG full profile other thanthe EPG lite profile and the EPG list profile.

Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of the present invention, themethod further includes the step of receiving fragments on either theEPG lite profile, the EPG list profile, or the EPG full profiledepending on information of the delivery layer while an unicast EPGmetadata delivery service as well as the performing step and theprocessing step.

For example, a value of the delivery layer elements corresponds to atleast one of a list information, a lite information and a fullinformation.

A delivery of the EPG metadata performs using a service guide deliveryunit (SGDU) containing a collection of fragments that meet a groupingcriteria, and a grouping of the fragments in the SGDU conforms to thegrouping criteria declared for the SGDU in SGDDs(Service Guide DeliveryDescriptors) announcing the SGDU.

For example, the grouping criteria is based on at least one of a starttime, an end time, a service ID, and genre properties of scheduleevents. And, the fragments correspond to at least one of a programinformation fragment, a schedule fragment, and a review fragment.

According to the above design, it is advantageous in that a deliverylayer of EPG metadata can be identified on a level of EPG providerinformation or a level of an EPG data locator. Moreover, it is uniquelyeffective to selectively receive an EPG lite profile, an EPG listprofile, or an EPG full profile according to a delivery layer from theunicast EPG metadata delivery service.

FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are diagrams for a data structure of EPG providerinformation according to another embodiment of the present invention,respectively. And, FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 are diagrams for a data structureof an EPG data locator according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, respectively. A method of signaling an address of a CODcatalog server using EPG provider information is described withreference to FIG. 23 and the like as follows.

EPG Provider information according to the present embodiment follows ascheme of including a list of target services providing EPG metadata. Inparticular, referring to FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, the target service list isdirectly enumerated in form of “TargetServiceID”. Moreover, in case ofattempting to selectively receive metadata about specific servicessubscribed by a user or specific services having authority for theservice metadata access, it is able to use the corresponding EPGprovider.

And, it is possible to specify a service type per each data locationprovided by an EPG provider. Schema of this case is shown in FIG. 25 andFIG. 26. In a manner of extending both MulticastEPGService andUnicastEPGService, at least zero or more “SupportServiceType” and“TargetServiceID” can be provided as subordinate elements. Through this,it is able to specify a type and ID of a service supported per EPG datalocation. Based on this, it is able to select an EPG data location toreceive.

Moreover, by adding an element NumberOfDeliveryLayer, EPG metadata isenabled to be delivered via n-layer.

FIG. 27 is a detailed diagram of the steps S808 and S809 in FIG. 8. Aprocess for a network device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention to receive and process content metadata is described withreference to FIG. 27 as follows.

The network device selects one or more COD services from the COD virtualchannel services(S2701). The network device gets EPG data locations ofselected COD services from CDDC metadata(S2702). The network devicedetermines whether a current delivery layer is multiple layer deliveryor not(S2703). If no, the network device retrieves COD content catalogfrom COD catalog server(S2704). The network device browses COD contentmetadata(S2705). The network device selects COD content(S2706). Thenetwork device determines whether the COD content is purchased(S2707).If yes, the network device performs an authorization(S2708).

If yes(S2703), the network device retrieves COD content catalog frombase-layer delivery channel(S2709). The network device browses CODcontent metadata(S2710). The network device selects COD content(S2711).The network device determines whether more information is needed(S2712).If yes, the network device gets more information of selected contentfrom 2-nd layer(S2713). If no, the network device determines whether theCOD content is purchased(S2714).

The above described metadata processing method is applicable as a schemeof supporting a COD service to a linear TV service. In case of areal-time broadcast service, additional consideration is needed.According to one embodiment of the present invention, proposed is amethod of performing the EPG metadata delivery for the linear TV serviceefficiently.

According to the above mentioned service signaling mechanism, each IPTVservice is signaled in a manner of belonging to a virtual channel map.In this case, the virtual channel map is a bundle of a plurality ofservices and can be considered a concept of package. An IPTV serviceprovider retaining a number of real-time channels can signal thechannels in a manner of configuring them into several virtual channelmaps instead of a single virtual channel map according to variousclassification types including a service configuration type, a servicearea and the like.

For efficient support, a signaling mechanism according to one embodimentof the present invention is configured as a hierarchical structurestarting with a master SI table. If EPG metadata for the structuredservices are delivered by utilizing the hierarchical structure,transmission can be more efficiently performed. For this, by utilizingthe formerly proposed metadata delivery mechanism, efficient EPGmetadata delivery for a linear TV service is shall be achieved asfollows.

First of all, there is a method of providing EPG metadata per virtualchannel map. For instance, in case of performing delivery and receptionby separating EPG metadata by a unit of virtual channel map subscribedby a subscriber or a unit of receivable virtual channel map rather thana case of receiving EPG metadata for all services provided by a serviceprovider, the following advantages can be obtained.

First of all, in aspect of a user equipment, informations onsubscriber-viewable channels can be selectively received. Through this,metadata data for a subscribed channel map is preferentially received,whereby EPG can be provided more quickly. In aspect of a serviceprovider, EPG metadata are separated in the above manner and are thendelivered as several streams. Therefore, it is able to reduce a consumedbandwidth. This is attributed to the effect of reducing a total size ofthe overall delivered metadata in a manner of providing metadatanecessary per user.

Moreover, since subscriber dispersion policy can be established by achannel map unit in dispersing a subscriber load, it is able toestablish a detailed load dispersion policy. Therefore, total investmentcost can be reduced as well.

Secondly, there is a method of providing EPG metadata per virtualchannel. This method is to provide EPG metadata by a service unit. Inparticular, this method is to provide metadata of a specific real-timebroadcast service if a user attempts to view a broadcast guide of thespecific real-time broadcast service. This method is specifically usefulin case that a user equipment has difficulty in receiving and storingoverall EPG metadata information due to the shortage of a storage space.For example of this method, information on real-time broadcast services,of which guide information was requested by a user, is received from aserver and is then displayed to the user.

Signaling schemes for supporting the above first and second methodsshall be described in detail as follows.

FIG. 28 is a diagram for a data structure of a virtual channel map forsignaling an EPG service provider per virtual channel map according toone embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 arediagrams for a data structure of a virtual channel map for signaling anEPG service provider per EPG virtual channel map according to oneembodiment of the present invention, respectively. And, FIG. 31 and FIG.32 are diagrams for a data structure of an EPG data locator forsignaling an EPG service provider per EPG virtual channel map accordingto one embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

In the following description, a method of signaling an EPG metadataprovider (or an EPG data location) per virtual channel map/virtualchannel is explained with reference to FIGS. 28 to 32.

First of all, there is a first method of signaling by adding EPGprovider information to VirtualChannelMap Table orVirtualChannelDescription Table. Alternatively, as a modification of thefirst signaling method, it is able to directly specify a specific EPGdata location only instead of providing all EPG provider information. Incase that EPG provider information is provided via ProvisioningInfoTable, this information is redundant. Hence, it is efficient to directlyprovide a location of a data source only.

There is a second method of signaling VirtualChannelMap supported byextending EPG provider information signaled via Provisioning InformationTable. By adding “TargetServiceID” to EPG provider information, it isable to specify a separate metadata location per service.

FIG. 28 shows an XML schema diagram of an extended VirtualChannelMapTable according to the first method. The added EPGProviderInfo elementhas the aforesaid EPGProviderInfo type. In this case, the signaledEPGProvider provides EPG about the VirtualChannelMap. If a multicastdelivery scheme is supported, it is able to receive the EPG by joiningthe corresponding stream. If a unicast delivery scheme is supported, itis able to receive EPG metadata about a service belonging to thecorresponding virtual channel map based on the delivery scheme describedin the following.

EPGDataLocator element of EPGDataLocatorType can be included in EPGprovider information, which means a case of directly specifying alocation capable of receiving EPG data.

And, it is able to specify an EPG provider per service channel by addingan element of EPGProviderInfo Type to VirtualChannelDescription Table inthe same manner of the above description. In this case, it is able todirectly specify EPGDataLocator as well.

Two kinds of schemes of extending EPGProviderInfo according to the abovedescribed second method are possible as follows.

According to a first scheme, a use range of the formerly extended“TargetServiceID” is extended. Both Service ID and VirtualChannelMap IDcorrespond to IIFIDType that is a unique identifier designated as URI.Therefore, it is possible for TargetServiceID to have VirtualChannelMapID. In this case, it is advantageous in that a new element needs not tobe added.

According to a second scheme, by adding a new element“TargetVirtualChannelMapID”, a supported target virtual channel map isspecified. A schema diagram of extending EPG ProviderInfoType and acorresponding schema are shown in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30. Example forextension of EPGDataLocatorType is shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 32. In theformer example, UnicastEPGService is directly extended and replaced.Yet, according to the present embodiment, new XUnicastEPGService isdefined. Through this, extended element and attributes are added.

Each of the first and second schemes can be located at EPGProviderInfoLevel or EPG Data Locator stage. If they exist at both locations, avalue located at the EPG data locator is used by replacing a locatedvalue at a higher level to specify a target service.

FIG. 33 is a table of fragments according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. And, FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 are diagram for a datastructure of grouping criteria for signaling SGDD grouped per virtualchannel map according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, an EPG metadata fragment configurationscheme for facilitating EPG metadata delivery per virtual channelmap/virtual channel is explained with reference to FIGS. 33 to 35.

First of all, EPG metadata are delivered in a manner of being configuredby a fragment unit. And, a type of the fragment is shown in FIG. 35. Aunit of delivering fragments of the EPG metadata includes SGDU (serviceguide delivery unit) and the fragments can be delivered in a manner ofbeing bound into a bundle of at least one fragment. Alternatively, it isable to announce the SGDU, which is the transmission unit of the EPGfragments, using SGDD (Service Guide Delivery Descriptor).

The EPG fragments announced as SGDU can be regarded as a specific viewor partial set of the entire EPG metadata. Classification orcharacteristics of the specific view can be signaled via a gropingcriteria element. For example, the grouping criteria can include one ofa program time, a program genre and the like.

By adding a classification of a virtual channel map unit in a manner ofadding “VirtualChannelMapCriteria” element to the grouping criteria, itis intended to facilitate metadata transmission per virtual channel map.SGDUs including the EPG metadata fragments, which describe the EPGmetadata corresponding to a virtual channel map matching a value of avirtual channel map ID designated to the VirtualChannelMapCriteriaelement, are announced by the corresponding SGDD. For this, XML schemaof an extended grouping criteria type is shown in FIG. 34 and FIG. 35.

In case of describing a specific service only, a corresponding serviceID can be included in previous ServiceCriteria to use. According toanother embodiment, “VirtualChannelCriteria” element is newly added touse for this purpose.

According to another embodiment, instead of adding a new element, thesame effect can be obtained in a manner of inserting a value ofVirtualChannelMap ID or Service ID in the ServiceCriteria element.

FIG. 36 is a diagram for a data structure of an SG response according toone embodiment of the present invention. And, FIG. 37 is a flowchart fora method of processing content metadata for a linear TV service byunicast according to one embodiment of the present invention. In thefollowing description, a method o receiving EPG metadata correspondingto a virtual channel map or a specific service by unicast is explainedwith reference to FIG. 36 and FIG. 37.

First of all, EPG metadata delivery by unicast can be performed based onHTTP protocol for example. HTTP based request/response can match queryrequest/response. Yet, a scheme proposed by one embodiment of thepresent invention is non-limited by the HTTP protocol and can bealternatively available via such a protocol as SOAP and the like. In thefollowing description, the representation of a query request can beregarded as an HTTP request. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, HTTP based Unicast EPG Metadata delivery can be representedas a query request/response based on an HTTP post method in thefollowing.

The Query request is available via ‘POST’ method of HTTP/1.1. In thiscase, parameters included in the query request are configured withkey-value pairs and are delivered according to a convention using HTMLform data via the ‘POST’ method. Theses parameters are delivered to aserver in a manner of being included in ‘message-body’ region ofHTTP/1.1 ‘Request’ message.

A plurality of key-value pairs can be included in one query request. Inthis case, each key-value pair is identified using ‘&’.

A response made by the server in response to the query request caninclude at least one “SGResponse” element having the schema shown inFIG. 36.

In case of making a request for a search result of a specific item ofEPG metadata, the corresponding query request can be configuredaccording to the following matters.

The ‘message-body’ of HTTP/1.1 request message SHALL contain key-valuepairs, using <key> as the key representing the criteria and the <value>as the value from the domain of the criteria. These key-value pairsSHALL be delimited by a ‘&’. If several key-value pairs are given, theyare combined as follows:

If there are several key-value pairs having the key “serviceType”, theseare combined using AND logic, i.e. the expected reply are Service Guidefragments that satisfy all given criteria.

If there are several key-value pairs having the key “genre”, these arecombined using AND logic, i.e. The expected reply are Service Guidefragments that satisfy all given criteria.

Otherwise, key-value pairs having the same key are combined using ORlogic, i.e. the expected reply are Service Guide fragments that satisfyat least one of the given criteria. The group of OR-combined keys is inthe next step below treated as one entity.

Key-value pairs (or groups of pairs having the same key) havingdifferent keys are combined using AND logic, i.e. the expected reply areService Guide fragments that satisfy all given criteria.

The response to a terminal request containing key-value pairs specifyingthe set of fragments the terminal expects to receive SHOULD contain allthe fragments matching the given criteria and MAY include in additionfragments that do not match the given criteria. If the terminal requestdoes not contain any key-value pairs having the keys “validFrom” or“validTo”, then the response SHALL contain only fragments that arecurrently valid.

A scheme of evaluation of match or mismatch of the above proposedkey-value pair is non-limited by one embodiment. Alternatively, anevaluation scheme of a different type can be supported.

In order to receive Linear TV EPG metadata by making a request byVirtual Channel Map or service unit, it is able to additionally definethe following key-value pairs to use.

<key>: “targetVCMID”

<value>: Identifier of Virtual Channel Map

In case of the above design, requested is the metadata to provide EPG ofall services included in a virtual channel map of which ID matches avalue of <value>.

<key>: “targetServiceID”

<value>: Identifier of Virtual Channel (Service)

In case of the above design, requested is the metadata to provide EPG ofa virtual channel (service) of which ID matches a value of <value>.

<key>: “startTime”

<value>: Start time of information such as schedule, schedule event,broadcast event and the like

In case of the above design, it means a start time of scheduleinformation of a real-time broadcast of which EPG metadata is requested.The guide information starting with a time designated to <value> isrequested.

<key>: “endTime”

<value>: End time of information such as schedule, schedule event,broadcast event and the like

In case of the above design, it means an end time of scheduleinformation of a real-time broadcast of which EPG metadata is requested.The guide information up to a time designated to <value> is requested.

If “startTime” and “endTime” are designated, schedule information withinthe time interval is requested. If one of “startTime” and “endTime” isomitted, one end can be regarded as a limited time interval. And,whether to send data amounting to prescribed days can be determined andsent by a service provider.

The above described query mechanism can be utilized in case that aseparate unicast EPG data location is not specified by a virtual channelmap or service unit.

According to another unicast delivery scheme, in URL designated to aunicast location for a specific virtual channel map or service, whenmetadata corresponding to the designated range is provided, in case thatall metadata are requested as a unicast request, the metadatacorresponding to the designated range is received only. In this case,the relevant virtual channel map ID or the service ID is not designatedto the key-value pair but a time interval of a guide to receive isdesignated only.

As a result of this query, SGDD or SGDU can be received. In case ofreceiving the SGDD, the SGDU announced within the SGDD shall be receivedand processed. Moreover, a grouping criteria of the SGDD can beconfigured as proposed in the above fragment configuration scheme.

FIG. 37 shows an operational flow for receiving and processing contentmetadata for a linear TV service by unicast according to one embodimentof the present invention.

Metadata for a linear TV content is received in a manner of making arequest to EPG DataLocation server using the above mentioned HTTP/Queryscheme. The flowchart shown in FIG. 37 describes the processing schemesfor those cases.

A server response to the HTTP/Query request can use SGDD (service guidedelivery descriptor) capable of SGDU (service guide delivery unit) orSGDUs by a unit of delivering fragments of EPG metadata.

In case that the SGDD is included in the response, SGDUs announcedthrough the response are received and processed and the SGDUs includedin the response are also processed. According to this processing, allthe fragments of the RPG metadata corresponding to the HTTP/Query resultare received. A content guide is configured using the received fragmentsand are then displayed to a user.

The network device selects a virtual channel map or service forrequesting guide information(S3701). The network device gets EPG datalocations of selected virtual channel map or service from CDDCmetadata(S3702). The network device unicast-requests to EPG datalocation (via HTTP or Query)(S3703).

The network device determines whether there are SGDDs inresponse(S3704). If no(S3704), the network device determines whetherthere are SGDUs in response(3705). If no(S3705), the network devicecomposes content guide based on retrieved fragments(S3706). The networkdevice presents content guide to user(S3707).

If yes(S3704), the network device retrieves SGDUs which are announced inSGDDs(S3708). The network device processes fragments in retrievedSGDUs(S3709). And, the network device processes fragments in SGDUscontained in response(S3710).

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for a method of processing content metadata for alinear TV service by multicast according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

A method of receiving EPG metadata corresponding to a virtual channelmap or a specific service by multicast is explained with reference toFIG. 38 as follows.

Unlike the aforesaid unicast scheme, if a delivery is performed bymulticast, EPG metadata corresponding to a virtual channel map or aspecific service designated to a corresponding stream are configured anddelivered. In doing so, metadata of one virtual channel map or oneservice can be included in one multicast stream only. Alternatively,metadata of at least two virtual channel maps or at least two servicescan be included in one multicast stream. Thus, in case that metadata ofat least two virtual channel maps or at least two services aretransmitted by being included in one multicast stream, a view ofmetadata belonging to an SGDD, for which grouping criteria is set permetadata belonging to a specific virtual map or a specific service usingthe above described EPG metadata fragment configuration, can beidentified with ease and an SGDU belonging to the view can beselectively received.

Moreover, FIG. 38 shows an operational flow for receiving and processingcontent metadata for a linear TV by multicast.

First of all, metadata for a linear TV content is received in a mannerof joining a multicast stream designated to an EPG DataLocation usingthe aforesaid multicast scheme. The flowchart shown in FIG. 38 describesa processing scheme for this case.

If the joined multicast stream includes metadata corresponding to aspecific virtual channel map or service to receive only, it is announcedthrough one SGDD within the stream. In this case, an SGDU is obtainedusing the unique SGDD. A guide picture can be then configured byreceiving necessary EPG metadata fragments through the obtained SGDU.

In case that metadata corresponding to at least two virtual channel mapsor services are transmitted by being included in the correspondingstream, an SGDU belonging to one SGDD per virtual channel map or serviceis announced via the corresponding SGDD. Hence, when several SGDDsexist, whether metadata for a specific virtual channel map or service isincluded can be indicated by the above mentioned grouping criteria.Through this, SGDD is selected. And, an essentially necessary SGDU isselectively received. A guide picture can be then configured. Finally,the above configured content guide is displayed to a user.

The network device selects a virtual channel map or service forrequesting guide information(S3801). The network device gets EPG datalocations of selected virtual channel map or service from CDDCmetadata(S3802). The network device joins multicast stream which issignaled through EPG data location(S3803).

The network device determines whether there are several SGDDs in thestream(S3804). If no(S3804), the network device retrieves SGDUs whichare announced in SGDDs(S3805). The network device processes fragments inretrieved SGDUs(S3806). The network device composes content guide basedon retrieved fragments(S3807). The network device presents content guideto a user(S3808).

If yes(S3804), the network device selects SGDD which belongs to selectedVirtual Channel Map or service(S3809).

FIG. 39 is a diagram of a network device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. In the following description, a network deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention is described withreference to FIG. 39.

A Network Interface(3901) performs receiving/sending IPTV packets. Thenetwork interface(3901) may correspond to physical & data link layers.

An TCP/IP Manager(3902) is responsible for end to end (source todestination) packet delivery. The TCP/IP manager(3902) classifies eachpackets into appropriate protocol manager.

A Service Delivery Manager(3904) is responsible for handling real-timestreaming data and downloading content. The service deliverymanager(3904) is also responsible for retrieving contents from ContentDB for later consuming. RTP/RTCP (Real-Time Transport Protocol/RTPControl Protocol) may be used with MPEG-2 TS. MPEG-2 packets areencapsulated in RTP. The service delivery manager(3904) parses RTPpackets and sends the parsed transport packets to DEMUX. The servicedelivery manager(3904) sends feedback on the network reception qualityusing RTCP. MPEG-2 transport packets may be carried directly in UDPwithout RTP. For content downloading, HTTP or FLUTE protocol may be usedfor delivery protocol.

A demultiplexer(3908) performs de-multiplexing audio, video and PSItables from input transport packets. The demux(3908) controls thede-multiplexing for PSI tables by PSI Decoder. The demux(3908) performsmaking the sections of PSI tables and sending them to PSI Decoder. Thedemux(3908) controls the de-multiplexing for A/V transport packets.

A PSI & (PSIP and/or DVB-SI) Decoder(3907) may correspond to PSI(andPSIP/DVB-SI) Control Module. The PSI & (PSIP and/or DVB-SI)Decoder(3907) sets PIDs for PSI tables and PSIP/DVB-SI tables to DEMUX.The PSI & (PSIP and/or DVB-SI) Decoder(3907) performs decoding theprivate sections of PSI and (PSIP and/or DVB-SI) sent by DEMUX. Thedecoding result is used to de-multiplex input transport packets. (e.g.set Audio and Video PID to DEMUX.)

A Audio and Video Decoder (3912) performs decoding audio and videoelementary stream packets.

A A/V and OSD Displayer(3915) receives audio and video data from A/VDecoder. The A/V and OSD Displayer(3915) controls video and audio dataand displays them on the Screen and speaker. The A/V and OSDDisplayer(3915) controls OSD (On Screen Display) Graphic data.

A Native Application manager and UI (User Interface) Manager(3913)performs supporting the Graphic User Interface on TV Screen, receivinguser key by remote control or front panel, and managing the states ofthe whole TV system.

A Service Manager(3914) controls all the other managers related to theservices like Service control manager, Service delivery manager, IG-OITFclient, Service Discovery manager, and Metadata manager. The servicemanager(3914) is responsible for serving IPTV services.

A SI & Metadata DB(3911) is a database for Service Discovery informationand Metadata related to the services.

A SD(Service Discovery) Manager(3909) performs enabling of the discoveryof IPTV services over bi-directional IP network. The SD manager(3909)provides all the information for selecting service.

A Service Control Manager(3903) is responsible for selecting andcontrolling services and managing sessions. The service controlmanager(3903) selects live broadcasting service, using IGMP or RTSPprotocol. The service control manager(3903) selects VOD contents, usingRTSP protocol. If using IMS, SIP protocol is used for initiating andmanaging sessions through IMS Gateway. RTSP protocol can be used incontrolling of the delivery of broadcast TV and audio as well as foron-demand delivery. RTSP protocol uses a persistent TCP connection andallows trick mode control on real-time media streaming.

A Content DB(3906) is a database for Contents which may be delivered bycontent download system or may be recorded from live media TV.

A PVR manager(3905) is responsible for recording and playing livestreaming contents. The PVR manager(3905) performs gathering all thenecessary metadata of the recorded content and generating additionalinformation for better user experience (e.g. thumbnail image, indexetc). Furthermore, a metadata manager(3910) controls metadata on EPG.

FIG. 40 is a diagram of a network device according to another embodimentof the present invention. In the following description, a network deviceaccording to another e embodiment of the present invention is describedwith reference to FIG. 40.

In particular, FIG. 40 is a functional block diagram of each module of anetwork device (e.g., IPTV terminal function: ITF). In FIG. 40, a boldarrow indicates a data path, while a doted arrow indicates a controlsignal path.

A Cable modem, DSL modem and etc. 4001 reconstruct a digital signal bydemodulating a signal transmitted via an interface and physical mediumvia which an ITF is connected to an IP network on a physical level.

An Ethernet NIC 4002 is a module configured to reconstruct IP data fromthe signal received via the physical interface.

An IP Network Stack 4007 is a processing module of each layer accordingto an IP protocol stack.

An XML Parser 4009 is a module configured to parse XML document in thereceived IP data.

A File Handler 4008 is a module configured to process data transmittedas a file in the received IP data.

An SI Handler 4011 is a module configured to process a portioncorresponding to IPTV SI data in the received file type data and enablethe processed portion to be stored in a storage.

An EPG Handler 4010 is a module configured to process a portioncorresponding to the file type IPTV EPG data and enable the processedportion to be stored in the storage.

A Storage 4012 is a storage space configured to store such datanecessary to be stored as SI, EPG and the like.

An SI Decoder 4013 is a module configured to reconstruct necessary data.In case that channel map information is necessary, the SI decoder 4213brings the SI data from the storage, analyzes the SI data, and thenreconstructs necessary information.

An EPG Decoder 4014 is a module configured to reconstruct necessarydata. In case that EPG information is necessary, the EPG decoder 4014brings the EPG data from the storage, analyzes the EPG data, and thenreconstructs necessary information.

An ITF Operation Controller 4015 is a main controller configured tocontrol such an operation of ITF as a channel switching, an EPG displayand the like.

A Channel Service Manager 4016 is a module configured to manage achannel switching operation by receiving an input from a user.

An Application Manager 4017 is a module configured to manage such anapplication service as an EPG display and the like by receiving an inputfrom a user.

An MPEG-2 Demultiplexer 4003 is a module configured to extract MPEG-2transport stream data from the received IP datagram and deliver theextracted data to a corresponding module according to each PID.

An MPEG-2 PSI/PSIP Parser 4004 is a module configured to extract andparse PSI/PSIP data containing such information for accessing a programelement as PID information of each data (e.g., A/V data, etc.) of theMPEG-2 transport stream within the received IP datagram.

An A/V Decoder 4005 is a module configured to decode the delivered A/Vdata and deliver the decoded data to the display module 4006.

Meanwhile, a method according to the present invention is recordable ina computer readable medium in a manner of being implemented into aprogram command type executable through various computer means. Thecomputer readable medium can include a program command, a data file, adata structure or combinations thereof. The program command recorded inthe medium is specially designed and configured for the presentinvention or can be known in public to those skilled in the field ofsoftware. For example, the computer readable recording medium includes amagnetic medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk and a magnetic tape,an optical medium such as a CD-ROM and a DVD, a magneto-optical mediumsuch as a floptical disk, or such a hardware device specially configuredto store and execute a program command as a ROM, a RAM, a flash memoryand the like. For example, the program command includes a machine codecreated by compiler or a high-level language code executable by acomputer using an interpreter and the like. The hardware device can beconfigured to operate as at least one software module to perform anoperation of the present invention, and vice versa.

As mentioned in the foregoing description, the relevant matters aredescribed in the best mode of the present invention.

Regarding industrial applicability, the present invention is applicableto a digital broadcasting system entirely or in part.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method of processing an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) metadata ina network device, the method comprising: performing a services discoveryprocedure utilizing multiple service discovery metadata componentssupplied by a service provider, wherein the step of performing comprisesmultiple steps of: receiving a master SI table which locates in a masterSI table location in provisioning information, wherein the provisioninginformation includes multiple elements, an EPG provider informationelement in the multiple elements having both a delivery layer elementand an EPG data locator element, the delivery layer element giving atype of delivery layer that is delivered by at least one of an EPGmetadata provider's multicast EPG data sources, receiving a virtualchannel map table which locates in virtual channel map locations in thereceived master SI table, receiving a virtual channel description tablewhich locates in virtual channel description table locations in thereceived virtual channel map table, and receiving a source table whichlocates in source table locations in the received virtual channeldescription table; and processing an EPG metadata, wherein profiles forthe EPG metadata are classified by 3 sorts of an EPG full profile, anEPG lite profile having less than information in the EPG full profileand an EPG list profile having less than information in the EPG liteprofile.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein fragments on each oforganization name information and review information are applicable forthe EPG full profile other than the EPG lite profile and the EPG listprofile.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processingfurther includes a step of receiving fragments on either the EPG liteprofile, the EPG list profile, or the EPG full profile depending oninformation of the delivery layer while an unicast EPG metadata deliveryservice.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein fragments in an SGDU (serviceguide delivery unit) belong to the same profile.
 5. The method of claim4, wherein SGDUs described in the SGDD(Service Guide DeliveryDescriptor) contain fragments of the same profile.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the provisioning information is obtained by the networkdevice during a SP (service provider) attachment.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the network device corresponds to at least one of an ITF(IPTV Terminal Function) device, a mobile device and a digitaltelevision.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein a delivery of the EPGmetadata performs using a service guide delivery unit (SGDU) containinga collection of fragments that meet a grouping criteria, and a groupingof the fragments in the SGDU conforms to the grouping criteria declaredfor the SGDU in SGDDs(Service Guide Delivery Descriptors) announcing theSGDU.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the grouping criteria is basedon at least one of a start time, an end time, a service ID, and genreproperties of schedule events.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein thefragments correspond to at least one of a program information fragment,a schedule fragment, and a review fragment.
 11. A network device forprocessing an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) metadata, the networkdevice comprising: a service discovery manager configured to perform aservices discovery procedure utilizing multiple service discoverymetadata components supplied by a service provider, wherein the servicediscovery manager further configured to: receive a master SI table whichlocates in a master SI table location in provisioning information,wherein the provisioning information includes multiple elements, an EPGprovider information element in the multiple elements having both adelivery layer element and an EPG data locator element, the deliverylayer element giving a type of delivery layer that is delivered by atleast one of an EPG metadata provider's multicast EPG data sources,receive a virtual channel map table which locates in virtual channel maplocations in the received master SI table, receive a virtual channeldescription table which locates in virtual channel description tablelocations in the received virtual channel map table, and receive asource table which locates in source table locations in the receivedvirtual channel description table; and a controller configured toprocess an EPG metadata, wherein profiles for the EPG metadata areclassified by 3 sorts of an EPG full profile, an EPG lite profile havingless than information in the EPG full profile and an EPG list profilehaving less than information in the EPG lite profile.
 12. The networkdevice of claim 11, wherein fragments on each of organization nameinformation and review information are applicable for the EPG fullprofile other than the EPG lite profile and the EPG list profile. 13.The network device of claim 11, wherein the controller further receivesfragments on either the EPG lite profile, the EPG list profile, or theEPG full profile depending on information of the delivery layer while anunicast EPG metadata delivery service.
 14. The network device of claim11, wherein fragments in an SGDU (service guide delivery unit) belong tothe same profile.
 15. The network device of claim 14, wherein SGDUsdescribed in the SGDD(Service Guide Delivery Descriptor) containfragments of the same profile.
 16. The network device of claim 11,wherein the provisioning information is obtained by the network deviceduring a SP (service provider) attachment.
 17. The network device ofclaim 11, wherein the network device corresponds to at least one of anITF (IPTV Terminal Function) device, a mobile device and a digitaltelevision.
 18. The network device of claim 11, wherein a delivery ofthe EPG metadata performs using a service guide delivery unit (SGDU)containing a collection of fragments that meet a grouping criteria, anda grouping of the fragments in the SGDU conforms to the groupingcriteria declared for the SGDU in SGDDs(Service Guide DeliveryDescriptors) announcing the SGDU.
 19. The network device of claim 18,wherein the grouping criteria is based on at least one of a start time,an end time, a service ID, and genre properties of schedule events. 20.The method of claim 18, wherein the fragments correspond to at least oneof a program information fragment, a schedule fragment, and a reviewfragment.